President Obama is coming to Alaska, as well as Secretary of State John Kerry, and ministers from over nine countries around the world on August 31st for the conference on Global Leadership in the Arctic: Cooperation, Innovation, Engagement and Resilience (GLACIER). The conference will be an opportunity for international dialogue on a changing Arctic, focused on addressing pressing issues in the region with an emphasis on climate change.

I have accepted an invitation from the US Department of State to be the featured luncheon speaker at the GLACIER conference. I am honored to have been invited to share some of my reflections and insight, but beyond the words I share, I feel that this invitation is a reflection of what will become an increasing role of leadership that indigenous peoples will fulfill in global change. The values our people live with and our intimate knowledge of the land and natural environment are critical in helping to guide humanity on a return to balance and sustainability.